Warning light



g 1952 T. E. MCDOWELL WARNING LIGHT.

Fi1ed March 3, 1949 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 137F517 Tar 790mm 5 ffcfim /zu .2! 7w M 4444 T E. MCDOWELL WARNING LIGHT 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 3, 1949 lair 2.27.221"

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Patented Aug. 19, 1952 WARNING LIGHT Thomas E. McDowell, Chicago, Ill., assignor t The Pyle-National Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 3, 1949, Serial No. 79,443

This invention relates generally to illumination apparatus, and more particularly to a novel and improved lighting fixture which is uniquely adapted to be carried upon vehicles such as railroad trains or the like for use as an auxiliary headlight or warning light or which may be mounted in a strategic location for signalling or warning purposes.

A lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a drum-type enclosure having a clear lens afiixed in one end thereof which is adapted to enclose and support a gyrating light structure which may be selectively operated to produce gyrating beams of light of different hue. The gyrating light structure includes a light source which is mounted in firm assembly within the enclosure and a motordriven reflector unit having an angularly displaced reflector positioned so as to have a reflected beam of light define an oscillatory path whenever the reflector unit is gyrated relative to the source of light.

In order to accomplish selectivecolor screening of the instant lighting apparatus, the present invention contemplates the use of a movable color screen unit which may have pivotally mounted elements within the enclosure arranged for selective positioning from a non-interceptive position forward of the light-source to an interceptive position in the region between the light source and the reflector unit. Thus, when the color screen unit is moved into the region between the light source and the reflector unit, light rays emanating from the source of light pass through a color screen thereby assuming thehue thereof and may be subsequently reflected by thegyrating reflector in the form of a gyrating beam of colored light.

The provision of a lighting fixture of the type described which features the movement of a color screen unit into and out of a region'between the light source and the reflector unit permits the construction of a lighting fixture of highly simplified design having a greatly reduced-number of elements. q

It is an object of this invention to provide a lighting-fixture having a source of light and a gyrating reflector unit with 'a color screen'mech anism operable to move a color screen intoand out of a region between the light source and the reflector unit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lighting fixture of the type operable to produce a selectively colored gyrating beam oflight which- 6 Claims. (Cl. 177-327) is of compact assembly and which is completely eflicient for its intended purpose. H I

Many other objects and advantages of this invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the'following detailed description and the accompanying. drawings in which: j

Figure 1 is a side .elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing a lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary planview of some of the elements shown in Figure 2, partly in section and with parts removed to show the rela-' tive positioning of the color screen unit incorporated in the instant invention.

As shown on the drawings;

Referring to Figure 1, a lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral Ill. The fixture I ll includes ajdrum-type' enclosure ll which-has one" end seated on a ringlike casting l2. A rearwardly projecting frame element I3 is aflixed to the casting l2 and may be formed of a wide piece of bar stockbent in the form of a substantially U-shape as shown. An end closure l4 maybefdrawn up infirm assembly with the drumetype'enclosurel i by means of a knob l5 threadedlyyrecive'd'upon a stud: l6 integral with the frame element l3 and projecting through the end closure Hi.- The ring-like casting l2 may be adapted toreceive a clear lens l2a in firm assembly therewith.

The bottom portion of the drum-type enclosure II is cut out as at Ha. so as to receive a motor casing l1 and pass a mounting lug It. The.

mounting lug I8 may be pivotally connected as at [9 to any suitable formof support such as a pedestal 20 and may be moved in pivotal relation thereto as and for adjustment of the fixture In on any desired horizontal axis. W V

Spaced inwardly from ring-like casting I2 is a strut 2| which lies generally on a diametric axis of the fixture enclosure. The strut 2l may be firmly afiixed to the fram'eele'ment l3. A receptacle member 22 is carried by the strut 2-! and, as shown, preferably defines a' well-like form' for receiving a socket'receptacle' 23 in :firm' assembly therewith. The receptacle member 22 further defines a pair of oppositely extending boss portions 24 which may be adapted to receive conventional bearing races as at 25;

As may be most clearly seen on Figures 1 and.

2, the bearing race 25 in the upper boss portion 24 carries a pivot pin 26 which extends through the projecting arm 21 of a screen frame 28. The screen frame 28 is suitably adapted to carry a color screen 29 which may be made of clear colored glass or plastic. The color screen 29 shown in this embodiment takes the form of a semi-spherical element; however; it should be. noted that-the arcuate configuration of the screen 29 could be varied to assume any well known structural shape without departing from the spirit of this invention. a

A corresponding arm portion of the screenframe 28 diametrically opposedto. the arm por-' tion 21 is indicated at 30 and maybeconnected;

by means of a suitable pin to a shaft 3| which extends through the arm 30 for seating within the bearing race 25 carried by the lower boss portion 24 of the receptacle member 223. The shaft 3| extends downwardly through the frame element. l3. and is providedzwith a suitable driven connection tot'he, geared; shaft, 32; of; a twodirectional motor 33' which. depends, downwardly from. the. frame. element. 13. and is suitably enclosedbythemotorcasing l1. 1 i

The. strut. 2 I maybe suitably ofiset asiat. 21c so as to permit pivotal rotation or the screen frame: 28. about the:receptaclememberz zr Abulb. 3.4 may beturned, into the, socket rece s tacle. 2.3 i011 1156. as; a light. source. shield M is provided; which may be placed in proximity to th lowerportion. of the bulb- 34 to control the emission. of light raysthereiroin. The. shield 41 may have a. conventional spring joint cooperable. with the socket. 23 and may be locked in. place by means of a. locking band 42;,

, As will be noted from. the drawings, the reflector shield 4| is provided with: a flange porvents. thereflection: of. light. through, the inac tivated screen 2.9-.and, thereby precludes the introduction of. colored. light into. the beam of natural light,

A reflector It will: also,be apparent that-the reflector shield I 41. may. have-its inner surface suitably treated 34 towards the reflector 40..

Referring further to Figure l, a reflector spider is indicated at, 35 which. may be locked to a shaft 36 extending from-1a gear box 31 associated. with amotor 38 by means f a set screw 39. A generally parabolic reflector is carried by the. reflector spider 35..

As shown on Figure l, the gear box 3-1 and the motor 38 are carried by the frame element I3 in such a manner so as to angularlydisplace the optic axis of the reflector 4i! relative tothehorizontal axis. of the fixture Hi. The spider 35' is also angularly displaced sons to mai-ntain' the bulb 34 at the-focalpoint; of the reflector 40'- at all times. Thus, when rotated the reflector 40 defines an angularly eccentric rotative path as isindicated by the dotted line In operation, the instant warning light fixture may be selectively operated to produce gyrating beams of warning light of different hue. Such operation is obtainable through the selective actuation of the color screen mechanism.

As will be evident upon reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the screen frame 28 pivotally mounted to. the receptacle member; 22 may-be rotated to: an interceptive position whenever the color screen 29 moves into the region between the bulb 34; and the reflector 40. In this position, light rays emanating from the bulb 34 pass through the color screen 29, assume the color thereof, and are, projected outwardly by the reflector 40.

if,- a gyrating beam of white light is desired,

- the. screen. frame 2-8 may be pivoted to carry the color screen 29 to an inactive position shown in dotted lines in- Figure 2 and in full lines in Figure. 3. In this position, rays of light emanating from the bulb 34 are, projected outwardly by the. reflec or 40. h reby pr d in a gyra in am. of whit light.-.

It will be under tood hat he. two-directiona m or. 3 may be contro led. y onv ntional limit type switches and reversing switches (not wn) so as to p rmit, 1.80? rotationof he. or screen m h nism. a provided. h r in or. any; other lesser degree of rotation as maybe desired.

houg I a r sortcdto detail. the dc.-

' scription of my ycntion for the sake. oi clari y it W be p ent o. those v rse in he. artthat y modifica ion may h made o. the preferred embodiments herein shown without. departing from the spirit of my inyention I claim, as my invention:

l. A warning and signaling light. comprisingv a stationary source of light arranged to emit rays of light in one direction, a movable Dara.- bolic reflector in spaced. alignment with said sourcev of light to collect and focus the enjlitted; rays of light into the form of a. beam, means to move said reflector to. direct said beam in an opposite direction and in a changing pattern of light, and a color filter selectively interposed in the region between said source and said reflector to color the rays of light emitted towards said reflector, whereby the changing pattern of light will be selectively colored.

2 A warning and signaling light comprising a stationary source of light arranged to emit rays of light in one direction, a movable parabolic reflector in spaced alignment with said source of light to collect and focus the rays of light into the form of a beam, means to rotate said reflector in an angularly eccentric rotative path to project the beam in an opposite direction and forming a changing pattern of light beyond said source of light, and a movable color filter selectively aligned in a first inactive position and in a second position interposed in the region between, saidv stationary source of' light and; said movable parabolic reflector to color the rays of light emitted towards the movable parabolic re-.. flector, whereby the changingpattern oi? light, will be selectively colored.

3. Av warning and signaling; light: comprisinga casing having an open end, a light source ad; jacent the open end of the. casin nd. arranged to emit rays of light into. the casing. a. movable parabolic reflector in the casing arranged to. col.- lect and focus the emitted rays of light. into. the form of a beam projecting out of the open end of the casin means to move. said reflector to move said beam in a changin pattern of' light, and a color filter movable from a first inactive position between the open end of said casing and said light source to a second position interposed between said light source and said reflector to color the rays of light emitted towards said reflector, whereby the changing pattern of light will be selectively colored.

4. A warning and signaling light comprising a casing, a lens in one wall of said casing, a light source spaced from said lens and arranged to emit rays of light into said casing, a movable parabolic reflector in said casing spaced from said light source and arranged to collect and focus the emitted rays of light into the form of a beam projecting outwardly of said casing through said lens, means to move said reflector to move said beam in a changing pattern of light, and a color filter unit including a color filter movable from a first inactive position between said lens and said light source to a second position between said light source and said reflector to color the emitted rays of light, thereby to selectively color the changing pattern of light.

5. A warning and signaling light comprising a casing, a lens in one wall of said casing, a light source spaced from said lens and arranged to emit rays of light into said casing, a movable parabolic reflector in said casing spaced from said light source and arranged to collect and focus the emitted rays of light into the form ofa beam projecting outwardly of said casing of said lens, means to move said reflector to move said beam in a changing pattern of light, and a color filter unit including a color filter movable from a first inactive position between said lens and said light source to a second position between said light source and said reflector to color the emitted rays of light, thereby to selectively color the changing pattern of light, said color filter .unit further including control means to selectively actuate said color filter between said first and second positions.

6. A warning light comprising a stationary light emitting source arranged to direct light rays in one direction, a movable substantially parabolic reflector in spaced alignment with said source to collect and focus the directed light rays from said source into a beam of light projecting in an opposite direction beyond said source, means to selectively move said reflector to project the beam of light in a changing pattern of light, a color filter means selectively interposed between said source and said reflector to color the directed rays of light, whereby the changing pattern of light is selectively colored.

THOMAS E. MCDOWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 961,114 Forster June 14, 1910 2,017,849 Blee et a1. Oct. 22, 1935 2,104,911 Snyder Jan. 11, 1938 2,273,026 Dircksen Feb. 17, 1942 2,446,333 Kennelly Aug. 3, 1948 2,495,296 Springer Jan. 24, 1950 

